The noise levels were simply off the charts inside an ecstatic Villa Park on Saturday as Aston Villa’s sixth-successive home win reignited hopes of a European place with just two games remaining.
Villa’s win over Spurs completed their first league double over the Londoners in 27 years, while the 2-1 victory was their first win against Tottenham at VIlla Park since 2008. Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz got the goals and here’s the big takeaways courtesy of BirminghamLive’s man at Villa, Ashley Preece…
EMERY ON ANOTHER LEVEL
The records under Unai Emery just keep tumbling. The Basque made it 45 points from his 23 games yesterday, meaning it’s more points than his predecessor Steven Gerrard managed (44) despite being in charge for 15 more fixtures.
Emery is averaging 1.96 points per game this season, a record that puts him behind only Pep Guardiola (2.41) and Mikel Arteta (2.31) of those to have managed 10 games or more.
Spurs, meanwhile, were as many as 14 points ahead of Villa when Emery took charge. Now, six months later, the two clubs are level on points going into the final two games of the season.
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There was a lot of love fired the manager’s way after the full-time whistle yesterday. Given the importance of the three points, Emery broke out of character as he headed down the tunnel and gave those in the Trinity Road Stand a couple of clenched fists in celebration.
Speaking afterwards, though, his two goalscorers spoke glowingly of their head coach. Douglas Luiz simply said: “We believe in Unai Emery and we’re so happy with him.”
While Jacob Ramsey commented: “The boss is spot on nine times out of 10. He said the danger would be their counter-attacks with their pace and we dealt with that. When [Unai Emery] came in, we just clicked. As the weeks have gone on, we’ve got stronger. Everyone has built into his ideas.”
As players, fans and those inside the club will testify, Emery’s just on another level. “Overall, I am so, so proud of the work and connection here with our supporters,” Emery said afterwards. “If we can play here against Brighton [on the final day of the season] with the opportunity of getting into Europe, it is my dream.”
IT’S BOX OFFICE RIGHT NOW
Just on that fan connection and Villa Park was at its brilliant best. From Project B6’s swirling flags and claret and blue ribbons dancing in the wind in the Holte End to the scenes at full-time. “That atmosphere today was, for me, the best since the palmy days of Martin O’Neill and not far off the early 1980s,” exclaimed 5 Live’s legendary commentator Pat Murphy. “Emery’s expertise and decency, plus the players’ attitude, has created a close bond with fans.”
Supporters and this very reporter have fallen in love with not only the manager but this group of players. You’ve got the exuberant World Cup winner in goal who keeps coming up with world-class moments. There’s the old warhorse at right-back who still doesn’t look like a day over 28. Mings and Konsa are everything you want from a centre-back pairing. Alex Moreno just loves to get forward. Jacob Ramsey’s the darling and starboy; Douglas Luiz brings class and craft to Villa’s play; John McGinn is captain fantastic on and off the pitch and a real pain in the backside for opposition teams. Emi Buendia’s full of verve. Leon Bailey produces magic needed and then there’s the selfless striker, Ollie Watkins, who just never stops running. It’s a Hollywood cast who have continued to serve up blockbuster after blockbuster, with the fans loving every single moment.
That fan-team connection at Villa right now is special. “That is the way we want to create, to connect with the supporters and get their energy,” Emery beamed afterwards, with the manager always first to thank fans for their support.
VILLA’S BRILLIANT HIGH LINE
To the nitty-gritty of yesterday’s match now and there was an incredible stat that jumped out afterwards. Spurs’ nine offsides meant that since Emery’s first game in charge back in November, Villa have caught their opponents offside an incredible 92 times, 27 more than any other team (Liverpool, 65).
Villa’s high line can be a dangerous game to play, as they found out at Old Trafford with Marcus Rashford timing the majority of his runs to perfection. That didn’t happen on Saturday, though, with Heung-min Son (4) caught out time and time again.
Speaking previously, Mings said of Emery’s high defensive line: “I’m being exposed to a whole new different way of coaching. You see us celebrate offsides – quite heavily – because that’s what we are focused upon. If we hold our line and the attacker is offside, it’s dead.”
It’s certainly working as well given Villa have shipped just six goals in their last 13 matches. It’s some going, that, with Mings, Konsa, Young and Moreno all nailing what’s being asked of them. As for those late offside flags being raised by the linesmen – they can get in the bin. Annoying or what!
REFEREE BANKES WAY BELOW PAR
Staying with officials and I’m convinced referee Peter Bankes did everything in his power in an attempt to stop Villa from beating ‘Big Six’ favourites Spurs. From John McGinn’s harsh early caution to Bankes awarding a free-kick in Tottenham’s favour as Yves Bissouma slipped over, it felt like he gave everything he could to the visitors. The late penalty was quite something with four to five minutes being spent on that call. Bankes, who had a great view of the incident, initially awarded a corner.
It felt like Villa were indeed playing against 12 men on Saturday. As for Emery, he didn’t agree with the penalty decision with Harry Kane going down far too easily. “The penalty was no penalty,” the Villa boss said. “Of course, we are going to respect the referee’s decision but, in my opinion after checking it like the referee, the penalty is no penalty.”
As for Bankes, that was his second game officiating Villa this season after the 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth at the start of the campaign. Given the Merseysider’s performance on Saturday, Villa fans won’t forget Bankes’ name in a hurry. Shocking.
A REALLY CLEVER FREE-KICK
To what decided the match now and credit once again must be fired Austin MacPhee’s way as Villa scored from another set-piece. Yes, it looked like a pretty straightforward over-the-wall-and-in free-kick from Douglas Luiz but just look at how Villa shaped up.
Spurs had six players in their wall, while Villa made sure the 10 yards were fully stepped out to give Douglas the best chance of executing. Villa, though, had their three tallest players – Mings, Konsa and Boubacar Kamara – just ahead and a little left. Why? To obstruct Fraser Forster’s line of sight with the goalkeeper struggling to see the ball and, as it came over, he was too slow to react. It was so clever with Douglas, arguably Villa’s player of the season, scoring his fifth of the season
EXCITING TWO-GAME SHOOT-OUT
Villa will be bouncing into a new week ahead of their showdown up at Anfield. The European picture will be all the more clearer by the time Villa kick-off against Liverpool next weekend knowing a: Brighton would have played against Arsenal (a) and Newcastle (a) while, in next Saturday’s early game, Tottenham host Brentford.
It’s all to play for with Villa now having all the momentum having gone level on points with sixth-placed Spurs. Villa and their supporters would snap your hands off for a Europa Conference League place, while a certain Douglas Luiz is aiming higher. “We want to play in the Europa League. The atmosphere is crazy. I’m so happy to be here and play in Villa Park. It is a dream. We are training hard every day for this objective.”
What a finale we have to this season. Let’s get it!